The SAO audited funds provided for cultural sites preservation programmes
Press Release – September 3, 2012
The Supreme Audit Office (SAO) performed an audit that aimed at the Ministry of Culture and funds from the state budget, which had been utilised for preservation and renewals of culture sites. During the audited period 2008–2010, funds were provided through two programmes: the programme for regeneration of urban historical centres (Regeneration Programme) and the programme for preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (UNESCO Sites Programme). With Regeneration Programme, auditors scrutinized 118 projects with the amount of support totalling to CZK 51.9 million. With UNESCO Sites Programme, auditors selected 7 projects with the support amounting to CZK 3 million.
Within the frame of Regeneration Programme, the Ministry of Culture approved the municipality of Hradec Králové to implement a reconstruction project worth CZK 965,000 concerning the building “Palm Tree Garden, identification No. 275“. The private owner planned to open a casino in the building and described the plan in the project documentation. By approving the project, the Ministry violated the Programme criteria, which allowed the support to be used to preserve buildings intended for cultural and educational uses or publicly beneficial activities. In addition, the premises should be operated by non-profit natural and legal persons.
A programme aimed at virtual mapping and photographical depiction of sites was approved by the Ministry of Culture and supported from UNESCO Sites Programme. However, the beneficiary spent more than one third of the amount (CZK 160,000) to purchase a personal computer, a camera, a monitor, and objective lens, which retained at their possession after the project was completed. By approving the project, the Ministry violated the basic criteria, in which UNESCO stipulates that the applicants should be sufficiently equipped for successful implementation of intended projects. Such a condition was not requested by the Ministry.
The SAO revealed insufficiencies at beneficiaries as well. For example, a historic building’s owner claimed reconstruction expenses in the amount of CZK 3 million in years 2008 and 2009. In spite the owner failed to give evidence of the reconstruction, the expenses were refunded by the municipality of Tábor. Another error was found in the South Bohemian Region: The regional council failed to pay back CZK 170,000, which had been economized during a project’s implementation.
During the period 2008–2010, funds in the amount of CZK 410.3 million were utilized in the frame of Regeneration Programme, which made about one tenth of the applied projects’ total costs. The ratio was much more favourable with the UNESCO Sites Programme.
For further details about the auditing operation No. 11/38 (in Czech only), see the following link: http://www.nku.cz/assets/media/informace-11-38.pdf (pdf 210 kB).
Communication Department
Supreme Audit Office